For over 55 years, Berner Industrial and Commercial Air Curtains (Air Doors) have been protecting openings in automotive plants, warehouses and distribution centers, food processing plants, cold storage warehouses, pharmaceutical facilities and other types of manufacturing facilities.

Whether it’s quick-service, fast-casual, cafeteria, bar-centric or white tablecloth, restaurant experts count on Berner air curtains for the front of the house, the back of the house, and for the bottom line.

Meet IECC Code with AMCA Certified Air Curtains plus Heat

Berner is excited to provide more options when using air curtains as an alternate to vestibules.In addition to adding AMCA Certified heating options, Berner also recently launched the Berner Air Curtain App to control architectural air curtains from a smartphone.

AMCA Certification for Heat! Berner received product performance certifications by the Air Movement & Control Association International (AMCA), Arlington Heights, Ill., in June for heating options on two of its designer air curtain series.

While Berner has offered AMCA certified ambient models for decades, now specifying engineers have both heated and unheated options when selecting models to comply with the International Energy Conservation Code’s (IECC) Section C402.4.7, building code which allows AMCA certified air curtains as exceptions to entrance vestibules.

AMCA tested under its Standard 220 heat, steam, hot water and electric coil heating options on the following Berner air curtains:

“AMCA believes that products should be tested and published per engineering standards and rating requirements,” said Nazme Mohsina, Associate Director of Certification, AMCA International. “With AMCA certified products, engineers can have confidence that manufacturers’ ratings are accurate, and that the catalog data are formatted to facilitate product comparisons across manufacturers.”

While Berner air curtains prevent outdoor temperature, dust and flying insect infiltration, the certified heating additions reassure specifiers that Berner’s air curtains enhance occupant air comfort in cold weather situations. Berner’s wall-mounted and recessed architectural units with or without heat are aesthetic, energy-saving mechanical air devices designed to separate outdoor/indoor environments. Air curtains are used at door openings in lobbies, welcome areas and other front-of-house areas in restaurants, hotels, retail stores, hospitals and other buildings to keep people comfortable and save energy.

Berner was instrumental in helping AMCA push through building code International Energy Conservation Code’s (IECC) Section C402.4.7, the recent vestibule exception allowance. Substituting commercial building vestibules with air curtains, which is also allowed by the International Code Council’s (ICC) International Green Building Code (IgCC), potentially saves building owners tens of thousands of dollars in new construction costs while also freeing up more useful square footage.

Heat – While other manufacturers offer AMCA certification on a limited number of electrically heated models, Berner is the only manufacturer to offer steam and hot water coil heating options in addition to its patented VTH Venturi-style electric heater. Introduced and patented by Berner in 2010, the VTH is the HVAC industry’s most aerodynamically efficient electric heater. It uses the Venturi effect to draw air through the heating element via the blower inlet before it enters the discharge airstream. This results in an unobstructed, near 100-percent efficient full laminar air stream discharge velocity with efficiency improvements of up to 40 percent versus heating coils placed in the discharge.

“By adding AMCA certified heated options to our most popular designer air curtains, engineers have more choices in how they both meet the IECC building code regarding main entrances and provide comfort to the space around the door,” said Georgia Berner, president, who helped establish the 62-year-old, not-for-profit AMCA as a third-party testing resource for air curtains in the late 1970’s and early 1980’s.

Certifications & Building Codes – click here for more information IECC code change adding air curtains as an exception to a vestibule.

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About Berner: Berner International LLC is a 60-year-old U.S. manufacturer and a leader in the air door/air curtain equipment manufacturing industry. Berner is a member of the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), The Green Building Alliance (GBA), the Air Movement & Control Association (AMCA), and the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating & Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE). For more information on Berner and its products, please call (724)-658-3551 or visit www.berner.com

About AMCA International: The Air Movement and Control Association (AMCA) International Inc. is a not-for-profit trade association with more than 370 member companies worldwide representing more than $3 billion in annual revenue. AMCA’s mission is to advance the health, growth and integrity of the air movement and control industry, with programs like certified ratings, verification of compliance and international standard development. AMCA also advocates for model codes, regulations and utility incentive programs that promote efficiency and life safety. For more information about AMCA, visit www.amca.org